Reds not interested in greedy players

REUTERSDaniel Sturridge's agent wants a sign-on fee from Liverpool, but the club seem prepared to walk away from the deal if that's the case.

London – Raheem Sterling finally signed a new five-year Liverpool deal on Friday after months of negotiations.

The 17-year-old England winger admitted it was a “relief” that talks had reached a successful end.

“It was so frustrating that everyone thought I was not going to sign when you know deep down that you are going to sign sooner or later,” he said.

And boss Brendan Rodgers has warned potential signings they will talk themselves out of a move if their sole focus is money.

A £12million deal for Daniel Sturridge stalled this week after it emerged Liverpool will not pay his agents’ demands for a percentage of any sell-on fee. It comes as part of a clampdown on the amount of fees the club are paying to middle men.

Rodgers, though, is determined to be just as careful in terms of the money that goes to new arrivals. He pulled out of a move for Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer because of the terms being demanded and will not be afraid to do the same again.

“For us, it is about getting players in who are hungry to succeed and to pull on the shirt. That’s the simple message for any player coming here – you can’t take the money and run. You have to earn the right to play for this club and to help us succeed,” said Rodgers, whose side welcome Fulham to Anfield on Saturday night for the first time since a public pursuit of Clint Dempsey. – Daily Mail

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